News from the Oklahoma National Guard

Army Increases Tuition Assistance, Adjusts Credentialing Program
December 17, 2024 — WASHINGTON - The Army announced policy updates to voluntary education programs for active-duty, Reserve and National Guard Soldiers. The new guidance includes a $500 increase and a two-semester-hour increase for tuition assistance and changes to the credentialing assistance program. “The Army recognizes the value of the tuition assistance and... MORE

The Army announced policy updates Dec. 11, 2024, for the tuition assistance and credentialing assistance educational programs for Active-Duty, Reserve, and National Guard Soldiers. The changes include increased semester hour and dollar amount caps for TA and a reduction in the dollar amount cap for CA.

OKGuard Family Program Office recognized for Hurricane Helene support
December 17, 2024 — Oklahoma City -- Members of the Oklahoma National Guard's Family Program Office were presented with certificates of appreciation from the Florida National Guard Family Program Office on Dec. 9, 2024, for providing remote relief to more than 750 FLNG Soldiers affected by Hurricane Helene by offering resource referral assistance. The support lessened... MORE

Warren Griffis (left), Jennifer Roberts (middle), both members of the Oklahoma National Guard Family Program Office, stand with Col. Yolanda Murray (right), director of manpower and personnel for the OKNG, after being presented certificates of appreciation from the Florida National Guard Family Program Office for providing remote relief to more than 750 FLNG Soldiers affected by Hurricane Helene by offering resource referral assistance. The support lessened the burden of the Florida National Guard while enabling their Guardsmen to focus on responding to the devastation. (Oklahoma National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Reece Heck)

Pat Haynes awarded Thunderbird Medal
December 17, 2024 — Pat Haynes, a volunteer for the Oklahoma National Guard Family Program Office, was presented with the Thunderbird Medal for her dedication to supporting the families and children of Oklahoma's service members... MORE

Pat Haynes, volunteer for the Oklahoma National Guard Family Program Office, is awarded the Thunderbird Medal for dedicating countless hours to the Oklahoma National Guard, utilizing her extensive training and experience as a child and family counselor to support OKNG efforts. The Thunderbird Medal is the Oklahoma National Guard’s highest award presented to a civilian. (Oklahoma National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Reece Heck)

OKGuard gains new chaplain candidate
December 13, 2024 — Oklahoma National Guard's 2nd Lt. Michael Bolgrin commissioned as a chaplain candidate in a ceremony held at 90th Troop Command in Oklahoma City, Oct. 30, 2024. Bolgrin has served in the OKNG for 16 years, and felt the call to chaplaincy after his 2017-2018 deployment to Afghanistan... MORE

138th Fighter Wing hosts 8th Annual Oklahoma Women in Aviation & Aerospace Day
December 12, 2024 — TULSA, Okla. - On Friday, December 6, the Oklahoma National Guard's 138th Fighter Wing hosted the eighth annual Oklahoma Women in Aviation and Aerospace Day.More than 1,000 students and adults in the aerospace industry visited the base and participated in several events, including aircraft and military vehicle static displays, a panel discussion,... MORE

Tech. Sgt. Deianira Conte, 138th Fighter Wing, speaks with students at the eighth annual Oklahoma Women in Aviation & Aerospace Day at the Tulsa Air National Guard Base, Okla., Dec. 6, 2023. More than 1,000 students and adults in the aerospace industry came to participate in the event which included aircraft and military static displays, a panel discussion, guest speakers, and more. (Oklahoma Air National Guard photo by Master Sgt. Rebecca Imwalle)

Brothers by Birth and Soldiers by Choice: Twins commission together in OKGuard
December 11, 2024 — Twins at birth, brothers in arms: Chad and Cory Watson of Owasso, Oklahoma, recently made history by commissioning together as second lieutenants in the Oklahoma Army National Guard. Both now serve as infantry officers in the 45th Infantry Brigade Combat Team’s 1st Battalion, 279th Infantry Regiment... MORE

Twin Brothers Chad (Left) and Cory Watson (Right), members of 1st Battalion, 279th Infantry Regiment, 45th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, made unique history by commissioning together as second lieutenants in the Oklahoma Army National Guard at Camp Gruber Training Center near Braggs, Oklahoma, Oct. 20, 2024. (Oklahoma National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Reece Heck)

OKGuard tackles wildfires with Task Force Firehawk
December 11, 2024 — Task Force Firehawk, the Oklahoma National Guard’s Wildland Firefighting program, is blazing a trail in protecting the state’s forests and grasslands while equipping Guardsmen with a unique skill set... MORE

An Oklahoma Army National Guard Soldier constructs a firebreak at the Wildland Firefighting Course at Camp Gruber Training Center, Oklahoma, Aug. 21, 2023. Soldiers volunteered for the course to earn their Red Card Certification and have the knowledge and experience to respond to wildfire incidents both in state and around the nation. (Oklahoma Army National Guard photo by Spc. Danielle Rayon)

New Oklahoma National Guard Soldier continues family legacy
November 26, 2024 — Continuing her family’s legacy of service in the Oklahoma Army National Guard, Pvt. Kristen Buck enlisted as a religious affairs specialist, assigned to Headquarters Company, 700th Brigade Support Battalion, 45th Infantry Brigade Combat Team... MORE

Pvt. Kristen Buck takes the Oath of Enlistment, officiated by her father, Maj. Christopher Buck, after enlisting in the Oklahoma Army National Guard as a religious affairs specialist, Oct. 15, 2024. Kristen continues her family's legacy by following in her father's footsteps, who has been a member of the Oklahoma Army National Guard for the past 25 years. (Oklahoma National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Reece Heck)

Selfless Service in Action: How the OKGuard supported Hurricane Helene relief efforts
November 22, 2024 — Oklahoma National Guard members with 90th Troop Command’s Detachment 1, Bravo Company, 2nd Battalion, 149th Aviation Regiment, provided relief efforts for North Carolina residents following the aftermath of Hurricane Helene... MORE

Oklahoma National Guard members with 90th Troop Command’s Detachment 1, Bravo Company, 2nd Battalion, 149th Aviation Regiment, provided relief efforts for North Carolina residents following the aftermath of Hurricane Helene. The North Carolina Department of Emergency Management submitted an Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC) request to the Oklahoma National Guard for one CH-47 Chinook helicopter with hoist equipment and aircrew to support Task Force South in Greenville, South Carolina. The helicopter and its crew of Oklahoma Guardsmen arrived in Greenville, South Carolina on October 6, 2024. While on ground, the team moved more than 97,000 pounds of equipment including generators, fuel, hay, food, water, clothing, blankets and more over the course of 18 days. (Oklahoma National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Ivan Diaz)

138th Fighter Wing opens new small arms range complex
November 19, 2024 — The 138th Fighter Wing, Oklahoma Air National Guard celebrated opening of the unit's new small arms range complex at the Tulsa Air National Guard Base, on Oct. 22, 2024. The new complex will allow for CATM training on base for Wing members and local partners. The complex includes a range with 14 lanes, a classroom, and cleaning and maintenance... MORE

Brig. Gen. Michael Meason, Oklahoma National Guard assistant adjutant general, fires the first shot in the new small arms range complex at the Tulsa Air National Guard Base, Okla., Oct. 22, 2024. The new complex was a multi-million construction project that spanned over a one year and seven month time period. (Air National Guard photo by Master Sgt. Rebecca Imwalle)

Video by Sgt. Reece Heck

Oklahoma Guardsmen compete to be best warrior

Oklahoma National Guard

April 23, 2023 | 2:29

Twelve of the Oklahoma Army National Guard’s best Citizen-Soldiers gathered to battle it out for the title of Best Warrior at Camp Gruber Training Center, Oklahoma, April 20-23.

At the end of the competition, Sgt. Evan Bias, a cavalry scout from Tuttle, Oklahoma, took home the title of Noncommissioned Officer of the Year, and Spc. Carson Downum, a horizontal construction engineer from Claremore, Oklahoma, earned the title of Soldier of the Year.

“It’s truly an honor,” Downum said. “It’s a big deal to everybody wearing the uniform so I’m really proud and it’ll be really cool to represent and try to fight off against the other states [at regionals].”

The annual competition brings together junior enlisted Soldiers and noncommissioned officers from units across the state to test their proficiency in a variety of warrior tasks. Events included an Army Combat Fitness Test, day and night land navigation, an obstacle course, multiple marksmanship challenges, a 12-mile ruck march, and an interview before a board of sergeants major.